The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-03-25
We must have it,

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trunk and bag, and they began Il
search them.
"What is this y cried the Officer
Suddenly, holding mp something
that he had taken from among The
clothes in the bottom of the sachp!
Aksenov looked and saw that il
was a knife all spotted and brown
with blood; he shuadered with ter
ror. "And why this blood upon
itfi continued the officer.
Aksenov wished to answer, t.
tell them that he knew nothing
about it, that tho knife was not
even his, but he was unable to
articulate a word.
"The merchant was found this
morning dead in his bed; you were
the last one with him; the inn was
closed, and you were the only
guest. Confess then that you kill,
ed and robbed him." persisted the
officer.
Aksenov swore by all that was
holy that he had not even seen the
merchant after they parted for the
night; that he had no money save
his own, about 5000 rOubles all
told; and that the knife did not
belong to him: but his voice was
strangled, his face pale, aud he
trembled as with an age fit.
"Bindl aud place him in the car.
riage, cried the officer peremptoriIy,
''and take him to the prison"
An inquiry forwarded to Vladim-
ir in regard to Aksenov's character
resulted only in the information
that he was esteemed by all who
knew him. although he had been a
little wild and fond OF drink. "Nev.
erthlesS," said the merchants and
ueighbors, che is an honest man,
aud it is impossible that he could
have murdered Riazan aud robbed
him of 10000 rOubles."
The wife of Aksenov was in tie
greatest distress aud knew not
what 10 think. Fl AZ children were
all Young, one Of them still at the
breast, but she took them and tray
elcd as fast rs possible to the city
where her husband was confined.
They at first refused her permission
to see him, but at last her prayers
prevailed. and she was allowed to |
enter he prison where her husband,
IN cGnVict'S dress. was chained with
a horde OF other robbers aud mur
dereIs. She put the children in
their fathers arms, then seating
herself beside him, begged him to
tell her all that had befallen him.
"What can be done?' said his
wife when Aksen0v bad finished,
''Save to Supplicate the CzT; he
will never let the innocent suffer
for the guilty. | have already adj
dressed q petition tn bin, though
have not vet been able TO send it.
All, Ivan DimitTinvitch, iI was not
n vain that | had that dream when
saw yOu with snow white hair.
Thou art gray all ready with trou-
Die. Ivan, my dear, is it the truth
hat thou hast told me?"
AksenOv answered her with u
glance, then buried his
ace in his hands.
A soldier appeared at this mo. t
nent and announced that the time
vas up aud she must go. The Bit
crest drop to Aksenov in this part 4
ng with bis wife was the knowl. I
,lge that she had doubted him and G
ven asked him if he had killed the I
lerchant. I
"G0d alone knows the trnth," K
aid he; II must trust in Him and
wait His mercy" c
From that time on he ceased to "
Iink OF sending away petitions; he u
osed his heart to hope an / prayed e
My TO God. Il
On the evidence against him K
ksenOv was condemned, first to q
10 knOut, and afterwards to trans. cl
)rtatiOn aud hard labor; and with Il
ounds scarcely healed departed lt
Ith a gang OF other convicts to tl
berIa. hl
At the end OF twenty six years of h'
Ile, hardshipaud sorrow, Dimit. ca
evitch AkSenOv had become an
4 man; his bair was as white as "
ow aud his long white beard fell l
most TO his waist. All of his
Iiety bad disappeared he rarely sa
oke and never laughed, spending sl'
) time when not at work in pray a
5 to Heaven. es
In prison Aksenov learned to be yo
shoemaker, and with the money
sieh be earned from au occasional w
le bought himself "a Book of fri
artyrs, wbirh he read whenever ke
ere Nas light enough in the dun- th
on for him to see; aud on hOli- th
IS aud lete days he attended the
is0u chapel aud sang in the choir. au
Ie keepers loved him for his do VII
ity, aud his comrades held him to-
high esteem, calling him "Grand- We
her" aud "a man of God.n No
c wrote to him from bis old home or
i be did not know whether his or
fe aud children were living or gi
ad. Thus the time passed on. dl'
One morning there was stir of rel
sitement ia the prison; batch trt
new criminals had jast been ed
Dught in, and With them intelli- wo
zee irom the 0uier world. The sli'
lvicls gathered about the new BID
ivals, plying them With a thou Q
ID and one questionsj "trom ia